Qatar Red Crescent (QRC)’s Al Khor branch celebrated National Sport Day by staging the 5,000-Step Walkathon at the Al Khor Corniche.
Aside from celebrating the national holiday, the sports, recreational and educational activities held on Tuesday were also part of QRC’s social and developmental mission in the Al Shamal northern region of the country.
The branch also conducted some medical, social and environmental tasks, with volunteers from Qatar Security Services, Qatar Guest Centre and Qatargas.
During the walkathon, 150 QRC staff and volunteers marched towards the Corniche bearing the Qatar and QRC flags and walked 4km, burned 240 calories and lost 9.8g of fat.
Several Al Khor biker groups also joined the walkathon to celebrate National Sport Day. They were accompanied by a medical team to ensure their safety.
Other activities included the distribution of QRC pamphlets on basic principles, education on the importance of sports and healthy nutrition, medical examinations of blood sugar and pressure, and an “Ask Your Doctor” session for health advice and public consultations.
Also, the event was highlighted by beach workouts, football, volleyball, running for children and adults, distribution of T-shirts, healthy meals, hygiene kits provided by Chevron Phillips – Qatar, and recreational games and competitions such as rope pulling, jumping and sack racing with prizes for the winners.
QRC staff and volunteers cleaned the Corniche as a “positive initiative” to preserve the environment and keep the
city clean.
Throughout the celebrations, medical teams with ambulances were deployed in strategic areas, including the Corniche, Al Khor Sporting Club and Al Khor Residential Compound.
A special QRC corner was set up at the Al Dhaayen Independent Primary and Preparatory School for Girls to provide medical advice, distribute health awareness publications and perform blood sugar and pressure testing for 500 students, teachers and parents.
QRC Al Khor director Rashid bin Saad al-Mohannadi said, “On behalf of QRC staff and volunteers, I would like to send the warmest greetings and highest appreciation to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani for their keenness on making sports a daily habit for everyone in Qatar and for building a sports-loving generation. National Sport Day is a milestone in the history of modern Qatar. It is a policy that is not limited to clubs and national sides but one that emphasises in word and deed the slogan Sports for All.”